Social Security beneficiaries nationwide now have a reason to rejoice as the Social Security Administration gives the nod for checks of up to $5,108 to be deposited on September 24, Wednesday, 2025. This inflow of funds comes at a very terrible time for retired workers, disabled workers, and survivors, given the rising costs of living. Here is what to know about who is eligible, how much the individual will receive, and the significance of this payment schedule.
Who will receive payments on September 24?
According to the SSA’s staggered monthly payment calendar, beneficiaries born from the 21st to the end of any month are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of the month deposit. On September 24, banks will see the deposits of Social Security benefits for retirees, spouses, survivors, and disabled workers in that bracket. Checks will be issued to persons who have opted for checks instead of direct deposits. But recipients should also do well to note that receiving benefits by paper checks ends September 30 and recipients would have to file electronically as detailed here, It’s not just social security: IRS checks also going digital on September 30. Supplemental Security Income, however, recipients follow a different schedule and receive payments on the first of the month thereafter.
Understanding the maximum benefit of $5,108
This $5,108 amount signifies the greatest monthly benefit available in 2025 for persons who wait till the age of 70 to claim it. Social Security benefits are calculated on the basis of lifetime earnings and work history, plus the age at which one starts receiving them. Those who claim as early as 62 end up receiving a reduced benefit of up to around $2,831 a month; waiting until full retirement age currently set at 67 increases this amount to about $4,018. Waiting till 70 gives one the highest possible entitlement of $5,108 per month.
How are the amounts determined?
Every Social Security payment is a mix of different things we work with:
- Lifetime earnings: Your highest 35 years of indexed earnings establish your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).
- Claiming age: Claiming before full retirement age results in a permanent reduction, whereas delaying beyond full retirement age earns delayed retirement credits of 8 percent per year up to age 70.
- Cost of living adjustment: Annual COLA increases, tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), are applied each January to preserve purchasing power. The 2025 COLA pushed average benefits past $2,000 for the first time. To keep updated on the latest concerning COLA, read this article, Latest inflation data suggests 2026 Social Security COLA could be higher than forecast.
In terms of the domestic setting and delivery methods, SSA disburses retirement, disability, and survivor benefits on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of each month based on birthdate:
- Second Wednesday: Birthdays on the 1st-10th
- Third Wednesday: Birthdays on the 11th-20th
- Fourth Wednesday: Birthdays on the 21st-31st
Those who have opted for direct deposit will have funds available in their own bank or Direct Express accounts on this date. Paper checks should be allowed another 3 to 7 business days for mail deliveries. Normal payment to SSI beneficiaries is on a different schedule and is usually paid on the first business day of the month.
How they affect seniors and families
With the average monthly retirement benefit pegged at $2,000 and maximum payments at $5,108, this month’s deposits provide much-needed assistance to households with increased expenditures. These payments can help:
- Health care costs: Prescriptions, premiums, and out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Housing needs: Rent, mortgage, and utility payments
- Everyday essentials: Groceries, transportation, and household supplies
- Credit debt: Make timely payments on credit cards and loans
“In some cases, it is the linchpin of income,” said Evans. The assurance of these fixed payments allows seniors to balance their budgets and avoid making difficult choices about basic living needs, like food and medicine.
Read more: You Earn It, You Keep It’ Act would mean an end to tax on social security benefits
Read more: One thing you should never do to your Social Security card
Read more: Trump administration considering raising retirement age
